Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of (4-hydroxy-6-oxo-tetrahydro-pyran-2-yl)-acetonitrile from 6-X-substituted-methyl-4-hydroxy-tetrahydro-pyran-2-one, wherein X stands for a leaving group, by reacting 6-X-substituted-methyl-4-hydroxy-tetrahydro-pyran-2-one with a cyanide ion in water and by subsequent lowering of the pH to a pH between 0 and 5. (4-hydroxy-6-oxo-tetrahydro-pyran-2-yl)-acetonitrile and other compounds obtainable from (4-hydroxy-6-oxo-tetrahydro-pyran-2-yl)-acetonitrile may suitably be used in the preparation of a pharmaceutical preparation, more in particular in the preparation of statins, more in particular in the preparation of Atorvastatine or a salt thereof, for instance its calcium salt. The invention also relates to (4-hydroxy-6-oxo-tetrahydro-pyran-2-yl)-acetonitrile and other compounds obtainable therefrom.

Abstract: A method and system for application in an inkjet printer containing a substantially closed ink duct in which ink is situated, said duct being operationally connected to an electromechanical transducer, the method including the steps of: actuating the transducer with a number of actuation pulses according to a predetermined actuation setting in order to eject ink drops from a duct nozzle, where a pressure wave is generated in the duct by an actuation pulse, this pressure wave causing a deformation of an electromechanical transducer which generates an electrical signal; analyzing the electrical signal; analyzing the signal for a plurality of different actuation settings, and based on which analysis, determining an actuation setting, on the one side of which setting the ejection of a drop is a stable process and on the other side of which setting, the ejection of a drop is an unstable process.

Abstract: A printing method for application in an inkjet printer containing a substantially closed ink chamber and a nozzle, said ink chamber being operationally connected to an electro-mechanical converter, which includes the steps of printing an image for the purposes of which the converter is actuated according to a predetermined printing strategy in order to eject ink drops from the nozzle for the formation of the image onto a carrier; detecting the presence of an obstruction, in particular a gas bubble, inside the ink chamber during printing: interrupting the printing process: modifying the printing strategy in such a way that the obstruction will not produce ink chamber failure while the process of printing the image continues by actuating the converter using the modified printing strategy: and continuing the printing process by application of the modified printing strategy. An inkjet printer which has been modified for using the present method is also provided.

Abstract: A method of preparing an inkjet printhead, prior to generating an image onto a receiving medium, the printhead containing a substantially closed ink duct comprising an inlet opening and a nozzle, said duct being operationally connected to an electro-mechanical transducer, the method including the steps of arranging that the duct is filled with ink; generating a pressure wave in the ink, the pressure wave causing a deformation of the transducer which generates an electrical signal as a result; analyzing the electrical signal, and deciding on the basis of the analysis whether the inkjet printhead is ready to proceed with the printing of the image. The inkjet printer is also modified to perform the present method.

Abstract: The invention relates to isolated polypeptides with hydantoin recemase activity, that do not suffer from substrate inhibition. Such polypeptides arc for instance isolated polypeptides with at least 87% idcntity with SEQ ID: NO. 2 or SEQ ED: NO. 4. The invention also relates to nucleic acid sequences encoding these polypeptides. The invention also relates to processes for the racemisation of enantiomerically enriched hydantoin compounds and to processes for the preparation of enantiomarically enriched I)-or I-? amino acids.

Abstract: A printing method for forming an image on a substrate by means of a printer containing a plurality of ink-filled chambers, which chambers each include a nozzle and which are operatively connected to a piezoelectric actuator, which includes the steps of image-wise energizing of the actuators to generate a pressure wave in each of the chambers so that ink drops are ejected from the nozzles of said chambers, and measuring the pressure wave in a chamber using a piezoelectric actuator operatively connected to said chamber, wherein the image for formation is analyzed with the use of an importance criterion for elements of said image, the image elements satisfying said criterion are determined, the chambers from which the ink drops should be ejected to form said image elements are determined, and the pressure wave in at least one of said chambers is measured during the formation of the image. The invention also relates to a printer adapted to the use of this method.

Abstract: A method for printing with an inkjet printer containing an ink-filled chamber provided with a nozzle, which chamber is operatively connected to a piezoelectric actuator, which includes the steps of electrically energizing the actuator so that it is deformed, with the formation of a pressure wave in the chamber as a result of this deformation, by means of which pressure wave a drop of ink is ejected from the nozzle and the actuator is deformed, as a result of which deformation said actuator generates an electric signal, analysis of said signal, wherein prior to the analysis the signal is adapted by removing from said signal a non-random contribution to said signal which is not the result of the said energization of the actuator. The invention also relates to an inkjet printer adapted to the performance of said method.

Abstract: The invention relates to mutated penicillin acylases having a high synthesis/hydrolysis ratio in comparison with wild-type penicillin acylases and at least 1% of the activity. The invention also relates to a process for the enzymatic preparation of a ?-lactam antibiotic from a ?-lactam nucleus and an activated side chain with the aid of mutated penicillin acylases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of acyloxy acetaldehydes of formula (I), wherein R can represent an alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, alkalyl, aklylheteroaryl or aralkyl radical which has been optionally substituted once or several times or a heterocycle or alkyl heterocycle which has been substituted once or several times, by reacting a compound of formula (II), wherein R has the meaning previously defined and M can be an alkali or alkaline earth atom, in an appropriate solvent with a compound of formula (III), wherein R1 and R2 independently represent a C1-C6-alkyl radical or together represent a C2-C6-alkyl radical and X represents a halogen atom, whereupon the correspondingly formed dialkylacetal of formula (IV), wherein R, R1 and R2 have the previously described meaning, undergoes acetal cleavage to obtain the desired acyloxy acetaldehyde of formula (I).